Title: Thesis Statements, Introductions, and Conclusions
1Thesis Statements, Introductions, and Conclusions
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2Thesis Statement
- Just as a paragraph has a topic sentence that
expresses its central point, an essay also has a
main idea called a thesis. This is the most
important sentence of your essay!
But Mary, how can I know the main idea of
something I havent written yet?
3More on the Thesis
- Like a topic sentence, a thesis can be stated or
implied. - In most student essays the thesis is stated.
- In most essays, the thesis presents the authors
opinion sets forth an argument.
You have to plan what you are going to write.
Your thesis is the basic plan, Howard.
4Characteristics of a Thesis Statement
- Presents the focus or central idea of the essay
- Uses specific language
- States a generalization demanding proof. It is
not a statement of fact. - Gives major subdivisions of the topic (list) or
remains more general (umbrella).
5Thesis Placement
- Your thesis statement can appear anywhere in a
paper. - Sometimes it is the opening sentence.
- However, most students are asked to put it at the
bottom of the introductory paragraph.
6Final Comments on the Thesis
- A thesis statement is the central message of an
essay. - It should reflect the content of the essay and
guide your writing. - As you are writing, if you discover that the
content of your essay and the thesis do not
match - Revise one or the other
- or both!
7Introductory Paragraphs
- Introductions hook the readers interest, provide
a bridge to the thesis, and present the thesis to
the reader, which should frame your argument. - Hooks you may want to consider are citing a
quotation, raising a question, providing relevant
statistics, challenging a common perception.
8Citing a Quotation
- If you use a quotation to begin your essay, be
sure to include the source. - You must also show your reader the connection
between the quote and and the subject of your
paper. - Otherwise, it will seem tacked on.
9 Quotation Example
- World War I aviator, Eddie Rickenbacker, once
motivated - young pilots by saying that Courage is doing
what youre - afraid to do. There can be no courage unless
youre scared - (qtd. in Smith 12). If fear is necessary for
courage, then many - students starting their college careers are
certainly courageous. - Two types of college students are the recent
high school - graduate and the returning student who seeks a
new - profession.
- __________________________________________________
__ - QUOTATION BRIDGE
THESIS
10Techniques for Conclusions
- Redeliver your thesis without using exactly the
same words (you may want to use the list and
umbrella techniques) - Return to the approach you used in your intro
citing a quotation, raising a question, providing
statistics, giving background information,
challenging a common perception.
11Conclusion for Intros with Quotes
- Refer to the opening quotation
- Both the recent high school graduate and the
- returning student play important roles in the
- college classroom. With motivation and
- perseverance, they, like Eddie Rickenbacker,
- can overcome their fears and achieve their
- dreams.
12Raising a Question
- Make sure that the question is clearly tied to
your topic. - Remember to provide a bridge to the thesis or it
will seem tacked on. - Second person pronoun you is generally accepted
(although in the rest of a formal essay it should
be avoided).
13 Example of a Question
- Do you remember what it was like the first day
of your - first college class? Were you surprised to find
so many - students of varying age and background? Many of
- todays college classrooms feature an
intergenerational - student population. Two types of college
students are - the eighteen-year-old who just graduated from
high - school and the returning student who seeks a new
- career.
- QUESTION BRIDGE
THESIS
14Conclusion Answer the Question or Predict an
Outcome
- Both the recent high school graduate and the
returning student have important contributions to
make in any college class. Eventually, however,
age diversity will not be as surprising because
returning students will outnumber
eighteen-year-olds in many classrooms. As the
economy becomes more diverse and increasingly
international, more workers will return to the
classroom for retraining, and the average age of
a college student will continue to climb.
15Providing Relevant Statistics
- A statistic, particularly one that may be
surprising, is often an effective way to open an
essay. - When you use a statistic, you should provide its
source just as you do with a quotation. - Make sure you do not use misleading statistics.
16Example of Use of Statistics
- According to this years college admissions
booklet, - the average student age at FIU is 28.3 years,
which means that many students in FIUs
classrooms are over the age of 30. Most of these
mature students have discovered that they need to
upgrade their job skills if they are to compete
in an increasingly technological society.
Consequently, they find themselves in classes
with younger students. Two types of college
students are the recent high school graduate and
the returning student who seeks a new career. - STATISTIC
BRIDGE
THESIS
17Conclusion Referring to Statistics
- As the demands on the workforce continue to
- take a technological turn, universities will
see a climb in the average age of their students.
Because so many individuals in their late 20s
seek to enhance their professional lives through
education, the average FIU student can look
forward to sharing his/her university experience
with peers who already know what its like in the
real world. - Reference to Statistic
18 Challenging a Common Perception
- This type of intro entices the reader to learn
something new by challenging the readers
preconceived ideas. - Think about what beliefs your readers might hold
and what ideas you might use to counter these
beliefs.
19Example of Challenging Perceptions
- When thinking of a freshmen classroom, many
people envision rows of eighteen-year-olds eager
to begin their college experience. However, the
average age of a freshman at most colleges and
universities is well above eighteen. Many men
and women are coming back to the classroom after
an absence of many years. Some want to learn a
new skill while others pursue a particular
academic interest alongside the younger students.
Two types of college students are the recent
high school graduate and the returning student
who seeks a new career.
20Conclusion Challenging Perception
- Clearly, the recent high school graduate is
not the only type of student in the university
classrooms today. As the workforce demands more
technological skills, the traditional
eighteen-year-old students will find themselves
studying side by side with those who have
returned to build up their career credentials. - _________________________________________
- New Perception Thesis
21 Review
- Your thesis statement is essential (list or
umbrella) - Not all of the techniques work for every topic
- Often, writers combine techniques
- Intros have a hook, bridge, and thesis statement
- Accept that your intro paragraph is subject to
change as your essay develops - Make sure your conclusion addresses the hook
(quote, question, stats, perception) you used in
your intro.
22 Sources Consulted
- Campbell Martha. Focus Writing Paragraphs
- and Essays. New Jersey Prentice Hall,
- 1999.
- Hacker, Diane. A Writers Reference.
- Boston Bedford, 2003.
- Troyka, Lynn. Quick Access. New Jersey
- Prentice Hall, 2000.
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